IndyCar star Colton Herta has failed to rule out a potential move to Formula 2 in order to secure a Formula 1 drive in the future.
The American, who drives for the Andretti Global squad, has been the subject of longstanding rumours about a possible switch to F1, which began in 2021.
Amid Andretti’s interest in purchasing Sauber, Herta’s name was banded around, and was said to have had a seat fitting, but the sale fell through.
The 25-year-old was then handed a TPC test car Portimao with McLaren, which encompassed speculation about a move to Racing Bulls, then AlphaTauri.
But the FIA was said not to be prepared to make an exception of Herta, as he did not possess the sufficient Super Licence points to gain entry.
Herta would have been able to have achieved that this year should he have been able to have completed a top four finish in the IndyCar standings.
But with one round to go and in sixth place, he is now mathematically unable to reach the required 40 licence points needed to be deemed qualified for F1.
This has now led to speculation that he may be willing to take a seat in F2, which would potentially create an easier passage to F1 should he desire it.
Ahead of the Snap-On 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, Herta said that it was purely speculation, intimating he knew nothing more than anyone else at this moment.
“I’ve heard those rumours, too,” Herta told the IndyStar. “That’s all it is right now, is rumours.”
Herta admits an IndyCar to F1 switch would be something ‘to think about’
Such is the length of time he has been linked with a move to F1, Herta acknowledged that he is not trying to force one, but said earlier in the year that he would “think about it” if an opportunity arose.
“I’ve been dragged around in these talks for, like, half a decade now,” he said.
“I’ve had the carrot in front of me for a while, and I’m kind of tired of that being the case, and I just want to drive at this point and focus on IndyCar this year and focus on winning the championship, and if something arises out of that, I’d still have to think about it.”
Herta recognised the personal commitments it would require for him to make such a jump, including an upheaval of his life from the States to Europe.
“All my friends and family are here in the US, and I don’t know anybody where I would be going, so it’s a big decision to make if I have to make that decision.”
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